Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

“When God made Peace Officers….”

When the lord was creating Peace Officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And the Lord said, Have you read the spec on this order? A Peace Officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn’t touch, and not wrinkle their uniform.

They have to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half- eaten meals. And they have to have six pairs of hands.

The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands….No Way.”

“It’s not the hands that are causing me the problems,” said the Lord, “It’s the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have.”

That’s on the standard model? asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, “May I see what’s in there sir?” (When they already know and wishes they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of their head for their partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, “ You’ll be alright ma’am, when they know it isn’t so.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching his sleeve,” rest and work tomorrow.”

“I can’t,” said the Lord, “I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on civil service paycheck.”

The angel circled the model of the Peace Officer very slowly, “Can it think?” she asked.

“You bet,” said the Lord, “It can tell you elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop…and still it keeps it’s sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with crime scenes painted in HELL, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim’s family’ and then read in the daily paper how Law Enforcement isn’t sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Peace Officer. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.”

“That’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “It’s a tear.”

“What’s the tear for?” asked the angel.

“It’s for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, and for justice.”

“You’re a genius,” said the angel.

The Lord looked sober. “I didn’t put it there,” he said.


Anonymous

Senior Instructor
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

August 11, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and friends. We all mourn with you for this senseless and tragic loss. God Bless.

Police Officer
Chicago Police Dept.

August 11, 2004

What words are adequate my sister. You were faithful and dedicated to duty above and beyond the call. We salute you. Be assured your loved ones are never alone for we are but a phone call away.
Bob Johnson VA-VI

Bob Johnson U.S. Marshal's (Ret'd)
Blue Knights International Police Assn.

August 11, 2004

You served bravely. Rest in peace.

Offc. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department

August 11, 2004

We few. We happy few. We band of sisters; For she that sheds her blood with me shall be my sister.

To Latoya, her family, and her NOPD family my deepest sympathy. We will never forget nor will we ever forgive.

Victoria Smith
DCITP, former Baton Rouge PD

August 11, 2004

Toya from the Bronx. The first time I met you, we were at the carpenter shop before we went to the academy. I loved the way you said your name. You were a clown. Your smile, like Nicole said, was infectious. I am going to miss you. Seeing you on the scene and then at the hospital, I had to be going 90 miles an hour when we were blocking traffic for the ambulance. I cant stop thinking of the time Will, you and I were in my back yard when we got drunk for my Cinco de Mayo party and we started fighting. We had a lot of fun. Your daughter keeps crossing my mind. Why did god take you now, I can’t grasp the reason. You were at Tessier’s Funeral 3 weeks ago and now this. WHY!! Toya, we will all miss you so much. Since you’re in a better place, reach out to Summer she is hurting worse than any of us who came after she screamed for back up. I can’t get the vision of you the way that clown left you out of my mind. He got his though. I miss you Toya. 10-7 unit 122.

P/O Juan Carlos Navarro 8th Dist Task Fo
New Orleans Police Dept

August 11, 2004

Please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. Thank you Latoya Johnson for a job well done. Please continue to watch over us and protect us as only you can. You will forever be at our side and in our hearts.

For those of you who still have loved ones with us please take the time to tell them how much you appreciate and care about them.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

August 11, 2004

to the family of officer Johnson and the NOPD, I am so very sorry for the loss of such a great officer and friend. Sister, thanks for the time served, your memory and prayers will be with the rest of us here forever. Keep watch over us and we will see you on the other side......

P.O. II Taylor Schmitz
Metro Nashville Police Dept.

August 11, 2004

To the family and Co-Workers of Officer
Latoya Johnson may our prays be with you all. The lord will protect you and your family from here on. GOD SPEED my sister in blue.

Sgt. Larry Aliberti
Philadelphia Warrant Unit

August 11, 2004

God Speed, Sister.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

August 11, 2004

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fellow officers of Officer Johnson. May God grant you peace and understanding during this tragedy. Officer Johnson, you died a true hero and your memory will live forever. May you rest in peace.

Captain Robert W. Cannon, Ret.
Vermilion Co, Il. Sheriff's Dept.

August 11, 2004

Rest in peace. You will never be forgotten

Officer
Fairfax county police, VA

August 11, 2004

Today we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Johnson. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.
Rest in peace for your watch here is over; walk in heavens beat and guide us all to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

August 11, 2004

Rest in peace sister of the badge. Condolences to family, friends and all of the New Orleans Police Department family.

Asst Communications Mgr Leigh Brandt
Panama City Police Department, Florida

August 10, 2004

I use to be a 26,sometimes I believe that I am still one. Even though I didn't know you I'm sure you were a great police officer. You will be missed.

Engineer Shane Lulei
St. Bernard Fire Department

August 10, 2004

Greater Love hath no man but that he lay down his life for his friends. May God Bless and comfort the family of Latoya Johnson.

Retired Sergeant Roy Shriver
Enid Police Department - Enid, Ok.

August 10, 2004

You and your family will always be in our thoughts and prayers. Let the rest of us pick up where you left off. You are a true hero.

13Z11
LAPD

August 10, 2004

Latoya Johnson was an exemplary person and police officer. I feel honored to have met her. New Orleans has lost a very special person. My prayers go to out to her family and the NOPD.

Amy Kacpura

August 10, 2004

Pride Integrity and Guts

Some of you may know my face, but not my name. Most of you have seen me around the city and some have even met me, but not always under the best of circumstances. Some of you have even spoken to me on the phone, when you called me while I was working.

Most of you have an opinion on how my job should be done, but would never take my job if it was the last one on earth. And some of you who don't even know me, hate me because of my job. But when I go to my job, I go to make a difference and so I can fight what everyone else fears.

When most would be running away from danger, my job requires me to run towards it. I do this in the hopes of making a difference for someone else I don't even know. Most people say I make too much money, because my pay is published in the newspaper. But don't think twice about hearing about another sports player sign a 20 million dollar contract for 6 months a year of playing a "game."

Since my job's base pay isn't the best I must work extra to pay the bills. Including working extra shifts on holidays, and pick up side work at construction sites as well on my days off, most still complain thinking I am greedy, but don't they realize that I to must pay taxes, have a mortgage car payments and kids in collage as well?

Don't they understand that I am not paid for what I do, but for what I am willing to do for them? After all how can you properly compensate someone to risk their own life and face danger everyday they go to work?

And when I go to work I am punched, kicked, spit on and called every name in the book for doing my job. And every night I leave my house to go to work I realize I may not come back home in the morning. Because when I go to work I can be stabbed, shot, drown, fall, be electrocuted, or die in a car accident rushing to help you.

My job also requires me to carry special "tools" to help me do my job. Sometimes even while doing my job I have to defend myself from someone attacking me. Although, the newspapers will report to you that I "beat someone down", and not that I defended myself from an attack.

While at work I must also carry a gun to protect you, but should I have to use it, the media reports to you that I "gunned someone down" or that I "shot and killed" somebody, and not that I defended myself. Don't they realize that I shoot to live and never to kill?

Also when I go to work I wrap a protective vest around me to help keep me safe through my shift. I use this vest so that I will be allowed to live to the end of my work day. And hope and pray that should something bad happen that this vest helps keep me alive so that I will be allowed to see my children grow.

When I go to my job, I will see more pain, sorrow, agony, death and destruction in one month than most of you will see in an entire lifetime.


And to the ones who don't know me, I unforunetly will meet most of you at the worst times in your life.

You often will call me to come help you out with a problem. But if you have a really big problem you can get me at a special 3 digit number and me and my coworkers will race to your house, just to help you no questions asked. All you have to do is call and we will be there for you, no matter what time, day, night or holiday, rain shine or blizzard.

Sometimes my job also requires me to deliver lectures, babies and even bad news. I am also the one required to ring your doorbell in the middle of the night, swallow hard and advise you that a loved one will not be coming home tonight, then I spend the rest of my shift wondering why I ever took such a job.

Some people even refer to me as a "pig," but when I hear that word called to me or one of my coworkers I think of Pride, Integrity and Guts, which everyone in my profession needs to do this job.

Me and my coworkers must be able to have muscles of steel, have a sense of humor and put ourselves into dangerous situations and face danger head on all in a days work.

We must act in a second and make a decision in the blink of an eye, and spend the rest of our life hoping we made the right choice in that split second. If not we can be arrested and charged with breaking a law, be sued for violating someone's rights, or end up with even a worse fate.

My job requires me to take an oath to be their and to risk my life to protect you. And it is an oath that me and my fellow coworkers have taken and is one that we will not break.

What, you ask is my job, I am your local police officer. And what do I ask in return of doing all this and risking my life for you, nothing at all because it is my job and my hope, of being the one who makes the difference.

Officer David Carroll
Oklahoma

August 10, 2004

God bless you, and God bless your family. You will never be forgotten. Unfortunately, you’re another angel in the sky watching over us, day and night.

Police Officer
Tampa Police Department

August 10, 2004

Rest in peace sister, you won't be forgotten.

Patrolman

August 10, 2004

God Bless you for your sacrifice and may your family find comfort in knowing that were performing a necessary job.

Sgt. Paul E. George
Houston Police Department

August 10, 2004

My prayers goes out to Officer Johnson's family, and my heart goes out to Officer Johnson's daughter. So far your little heart has suffered many loses with the lose of your father, and the greater lose of your mother. But don't you worry dear one. The lord has a plan for you. It's not your job to ask what that may be, just let it happen.

You have a very large family now, and we all at the New Orleans Police Department and I'm sure I can speak for the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office can proudly say, we are there for you, and we love you.

Deputy Tivon T. Lyons
Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office

August 10, 2004

Sister, may God bless you and your family. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. To the New Orleans Police Department. We all mourn your loss.

Special Agent
FBI New York

August 10, 2004

Another Warrior has paid the supreme sacrifice. May God Grant Her Family, Fellow Officers, and Friends the Serenity to accept the things they cannot change, Courage to change the things they can, and the Wisdom to know the difference...Rest in Peace... Sister in Blue...

Officer Debra McFall Ross
East Buffalo twp Police Dept, Lewisburg, Pa.

August 10, 2004